1 Corinthians 1:2

This one is a long verse, but packed full of so much potential for sharing the Gospel!

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Chris, both their Lord and ours:
~1 Corinthians 1:2~

-To the church of God. Did you know the church is actually NOT a building, but a collection of people who are working together to learn more about God? This church was located in Corinth, Greece. They had a lot of problems, but God was going to teach them and refine then so they could be used for His purposes. He was going to love them through their stubbornness until they learned how to love each other and share His love with the other people in their city. God was not giving up on them, and He will not give up on us!

-They were not the only church out there, just one of the locations where God had people that had bowed their wills to His... or were learning how to give up their own selfishness in exchange for God's loving kindness

-Paul was reminding them that they were supposed to be joined together in love and unity with all the other Jesus followers, all the other Christians around the world. He reminded them that what they shared - their calling upon Jesus and asking for His forgiveness, was bigger and stronger than anything that might try to tear them apart. That Jesus was their Lord and our Lord too. 

-If we are Christians, then our goal is to work with other Christians to spread God's message of salvation as far as we can. We all pray to the same Lord, we all need to be on the same team.

-The only reason we have been sanctified (made holy) is so that we can be used by God for His purposes. He did not sanctify us so we could become self-righteous, but rather, He sanctified us because we could never ever be righteous on our own. We are now clothed in Christ's righteousness, so we had better be mindful of where we wear that robe. Is our daily life glorifying God, or ourselves? Are we making choices that would draw other people to want to learn about Jesus, or have we wandered away from that narrow path that Jesus set us upon?

-When we remember that we are a small part of God's huge plan, we are encouraged to do our part well - with His help and leading - so that we can truly be those who call upon Jesus' name with the assurance that He will always answer us, because He loves us!